Talking to strangers is a part of my job. I interview people for work, most of whom I don’t know personally in advance, but is generally arranged. I know what I’m about to do and so does the person I’ll be speaking with. But approaching strangers on the street to learn bits of their story is something else altogether. That’s why I’ve been fascinated by the work of Stéphanie Pfeiffer, a photographer in Paris whose project Les Gueules de Parisiens, is the result of serendipitous encounters and storytelling. And in a city like Paris where rules and categories are sacrosanct, Stéphanie is a non-conformist in the most refreshing of ways. Here we talk about her upbringing, her love for funky fashions, and of course, Les Gueules de Parisiens. 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Les Gueules de Parisiens: https://www.instagram.com/gueulesdeparisiens/?hl=en

Collaboration with My Little Paris: https://www.mylittleparis.com/insolite/gueules-de-parisiens

The exhibition: https://www.lebonbon.fr/paris/news/expo-visages-parisiens/

80: Parisian Faces: Behind "Les Gueules de Parisiens"

It’s been a while since I’ve done a France news update but there are so many pressing issues facing the country now besides Covid that it was time to jump back in. And this time, I’m joined by Yasser Louati, a human rights and civil liberties activist, a community organiser, and political analyst. He also co-founded the NGO CJL, a transnational human rights and civil liberties organisation. A fellow podcaster at Le Breakdown and Les Idées Libres, I couldn’t think of anyone better to join me to discuss the status of France’s controversial security bill, racism, Islamophobia and the historic sources of many of the countries troubles. UPDATE: Since the recording of this episode, France's Constitutional Council has struck down two elements of Macron's security bill: the measure to criminalise filming police and the measure to extend drone surveillance. That's a positive development for all -- well, except for the government. 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Yasser Louati: https://www.yasserlouati.com
Yasser's tweet: https://mobile.twitter.com/yasserlouati/status/1377858210607030276
Le Breakdown podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/le-breakdown-with-yasser-louati/id1511525127
Les Idées Libres podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/les-idées-libres-avec-yasser-louati/id1507998020
Security bill update: https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/05/21/la-censure-des-mesures-les-plus-emblematiques-de-la-loi-securite-globale-un-revers-pour-la-majorite-et-gerald-darmanin_6080945_3224.html

81: Justice for all? The state of things in France with Yasser Louati

When I think of women in the food media, I instantly think of Victoire Loup, a French-born writer and consultant who goes between Paris and Los Angeles. For a time she was the communication director for Le Fooding and has written for a number of international magazines and newspapers. More recently, she has published two cookbooks in French and consulted for an international network of chefs. She joins the show today to talk about changes to the food scene, what Los Angeles gets right about cooking, and being involved in mission-driven food projects wherever she finds herself. 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Victoire Loup: https://www.instagram.com/victoire_loup/?hl=en
Le Fooding: https://lefooding.com
"Cuites" book: https://cuiteslelivre.com
"A La Maison" book: https://cuiteslelivre.com/collections/frontpage/products/a-la-maison
Victoire's consulting: https://intheloup.la/consulting/
Mokonuts: https://www.mokonuts.com

82: On food, cookbooks, and dining out with Victoire Loup

Without question, Paris and the arts go hand in hand. The density of public museums and galeries small and large make Paris one of the most enriching artistic capitals to visit. In recent years, that has expanded to include private collections in shiny, multi-million euro spaces that have the potential to change the French art world permanently. Today’s guest, Susan Taylor Leduc, is an art and garden historian, tour guide, and former arts educator who joins me to talk about some these institutions, such as the Louis Vuitton Foundation and the Pinault Collection, as well as the city’s many changes and its impact on visitors. 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 
Susan Taylor Leduc, Picturesque Voyages: https://www.picturesquevoyages.com
Bourse de Commerce, Pinault Collection: https://www.pinaultcollection.com/en/boursedecommerce
CBS News feature on Bourse de Commerce (featuring Susan!) https://www.cbsnews.com/video/paris-landmark-commerce-building-transformed-into-museum/
Fondation Louis Vuitton: https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en
Musée Carnavalet: https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr
Hôtel de la Marine: https://www.hotel-de-la-marine.paris
La Samaritaine: https://www.dfs.com/fr/samaritaine?gclid=CjwKCAjw_o-HBhAsEiwANqYhp7urnq9BQNErO2tyfu9DJ1kUn8VqJD-oGT7t5DEtxR-w2saNy4gs6xoCUN4QAvD_BwE
Napoleon Chaumet exhibit:  
https://www.chaumet.com/fr/exposition-josephine-napoleon
Napoleon at La Villette: https://lavillette.com/programmation/napoleon_e1073

83: The Changing Art World & the Luxe-ification of Paris

Making sense of your identity when you live abroad can be a fraught endeavour. For third culture kids, identity is even more complex. My friend and fellow creative who goes simply by the name Pushan, understands this especially well. He’s French, Basque, Indian, and American and has lived even further afield for his work as a photographer and videographer. He joins the show today to talk about growing up between France and the US, Indian culture in Paris, and our favorite topic of conversation whenever we see each other: food. 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 
Puxan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puxanphoto
Puxan's portfolio: https://www.puxanphoto.com
Taste of Chalindia: https://www.chalindia.com/?ltclid=f5aaa516-81fd-4fed-b352-2efedd8dc77c
Puxan's mom! Profiled in my book: www.thenewparisienne.com

Food & Wine recommendations:
La Chambre Noire: https://instagram.com/chambrenoireparis?utm_medium=copy_link

Fermentation Générale: https://instagram.com/fermentationgenerale?utm_medium=copy_link

El Nopal: https://instagram.com/elnopalparis?utm_medium=copy_link

84: On food & identity with Puxan

In a country like France, where tradition reigns supreme, even a suggestion of change or newness has long been met with scepticism by locals. This is no longer the case, offers writer and adopted Parisian Lindsey Tramuta in The New Paris podcast, a side dish to her bestselling book “The New Paris”. Here with an assortment of other local experts, she takes a closer look at the people, places and ideas that are changing the fabric of the storied French capital.

NewParisPodcast

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